Android N is all around us — seriously, have you seen the number of Android N Feature Spotlight stories we've published in less than a week? (Hint: there are 40 and more are pending), but there's a lot we don't know about the next version of Android yet. We know the preview will get more frequent updates than L or M prior to release, we know the final release will be available in the summer, and we know that it's the bestest, awesomest, and most feature-packed'est version of Android yet. We don't know the name though, nor the software version.

What does this mean exactly? Practically nothing. The internal code name's history of not being picked as the final release name doesn't bode well for the New York Cheesecake. Well, that and the fact that it might potentially sound regionally restrictive and is way too long to type. Everyone will be stuck with this name for at least a year, so unless Google wants to raise the incidences of RSI with technology writers, it's probably going to pick another name eventually.

The problem though is that the choices of desserts starting with the letter N are few and none has that nice ring to it. Even Google seems confused and undecided. Everyone is rooting for Nutella, but that's a brand and not a generic dessert name. Nougat is very divisive. I'm personally cheering for Nonpareils because they're colorful and like the sprinkles of little improvements Google has added in N. Plus, everyone who doesn't speak French will hilariously have a nightmare saying and spelling the name right. If you do speak French though, you'd know the word means "like no other" or "without equal," and I think that's super cool and meaningful.

Curious thing is "confetti" has a completely different meaning in Italian: it's the name we use for sugared almonds (Jordan almonds?) and other sweets which have an oval shape and are coated with hard sugar. You may say that "confetti" in Italy are - well - confetti in candy form.
By the way, "coriandoli" is the name we use for confetti.

Captain_Invisible

As always, the internal code names are cake names, that I hear for the first time. And that would be a terrible name.

Although I do kinda doubt Android would have a bug that causes apps to go haywire if the version number starts with either 7 or 8. It's not like Google is Microsoft or anything.

Wait, that could be the point. Google is not Microsoft, and Microsoft may sue for infringing their trademarks if you call it Android 7 or Android 8, because it is too easily confused with Windows 7 and Windows 8. This warrants further investigation.

ohnettaverti

It wasn't Microsoft's fault that apps would have gone berserk; it was the fault of lazy developers that went "I'll just check the first digit of the Windows version; it's not like they'll ever stop naming them after the year of release, right???"

Yeah.. Considering Google's love for fooling people, my guess might be wrong. But I just don't think they'll go over to 7 directly. They didn't even have one subversion of 6. Then again, going to 6 was already weird, and should just have been 5.2, so maybe they changed their versioning completely.

My1

well I think we need to check the version numbers of the preview builds of earlier android iterations I think google was fooling us around even there. I think before we see an official Google Screenshot of N we wont know the version number

He's not being mean to me, he's just pointing out that this isn't likely to be the official name and that anyone who doesn't like New York Cheesecake shouldn't be angry.

Dastardly

Wow, Rita, didn't know cross-species babysitting was amongst your many skills..I mean even if it isn't, still this attempt of yours to put this loud little baby troll to sleep is commendable nonetheless.

Oh lol. Those screenshots were mostly from Artem's phone, not mine. He asked the team to ping him on Hangouts so he could get the screenshots and everyone replied with the most obnoxious things to troll him. Trust me, there's no mean spirit going on anywhere in the AP staff.

Btw, I said go away to myself. It was in a conversation between 2 of my own accounts.

Shivam Agrawal

Um Okay My bad

Dastardly

Guys, why are you justifying yourselves to this moron. No one here ever thought that anyone here was ever being disrespectful towards Rita, least of all the AP staff. These internet white knights are in a class of their own, their only goal is to score internet validation brownie points, nothing more. That said, I have myself poked light fun at Rita and other AP staff at times..well er..many times..too many times?..either way my point is if I have ever offended any one of you, just let me know and I'll cease and desist with a thorough apology.

Dan

Clearly, you know more about the relationship between AP staff than they do.

DV

Ah, a keyboard warrior. He gets offended on other people's behalf even when they themselves have taken no offence at all.

Not literally everyone didn't. Figuratively they might of - but I haven't, you haven't and the guy above you hasn't - thus literally everyone hasn't forgot.

pfmiller

It was a one off occurrence. One of the Googler's happened to be a huge kitKat fanatic.

atc-tech

Are you saying that it is 100% impossible for the same condition to exist with Nutella? There's no way possible one is a huge fanatic for it, and broker the same kind of mutual marketing, quasi-deal thing?

pfmiller

No, just extremely unlikely.

Gjorgi Lazarovski

The head of Android seems pretty crazy about Nutella tho, read his tweets. :D

Roh_Mish

Kitkat?

pfmiller

It was a special case, one of the Android dev's was a huge kitkat fan.

Historically, all of Android names have been sweet. So, fine, you're right: dessert + candy. Just because they said "tasty treats" somewhere doesn't mean that's the definition of their naming rule book and non-sweet things are now contenders.

Android nutella or whatever food you love.... Will be obsolete & avoided like plague in 2 years, unless Google bother to make Android O buggy and Android P mediocre so that Android nutella/whatever will be called as the best Android version ever

Diego Opazo SV-Cross

I know you are trying to say something... But i don't understand is that related in any meaningful way to this topic.

I wonder what Google will name Android releases when they run out of letters.

Josh

Android: AA, AB, AC ....

saf1927

They may start from A and use names of other things (Animals, Plants, whatever you can think of). Not really a problem though, there's plenty of years until Z, and Android as we know it may not even exist anymore by then.

Whatever the efforts in renewable sources, palm oil culture is still a waste of ressources: soil, water, biodiversity.

Kylecore

Kitkat is a brand and it has an android version so my vote goes to Nutella

Alexander Platt

Nanaimo Bars. Done.

ohnettaverti

Is "nonpareil" idiomatic French or something? Wouldn't the standard term be "sans pareil"?

Dunstark

Yes, "sans pareil" is the correct way to say that in French. To be fair, I had never heard of "nonpareil" before. It may be old French but I doubt it (especially since the dessert seems to be fairly recent)

> Everyone is rooting for Nutella, but that's a brand and not a generic dessert name.

*cough* Kitkat *cough*

Dan Keogh

Not many to chose from beginning with N there are the easy ones Nougat & Nutella and mentioned above in all but name Nankhatai (indian) or the following Nicuatole - Mexican
Nata de coco -Philippine, Napoleon - Russian, nut roll - Slovenia, Nian gao & Nuomici - China.

Choda Boy

I don't even like the Nutella spread, let alone the name for Android N. Bleh.